Elasticized disposable training pant having differential extensibility

• US 5,464,401 A
• Filed: 09/01/1993
• Issued: 11/07/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Original Assignee: The Procter & Gamble Company
• Inventors: Miller, Steven W., Hasse, Margaret H., Bridges, Russell P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Green, Randall L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): CLARKE, ROBERT A
• Application Number:
  US08/115,293
• Time in Patent Office: 797 Days
• Field of Search: 604/358, 604/385.1, 604/385.2, 604/378, 604/396
• US Class Current: 604/385.25
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15658 Forming continuous, e.g. composite, fibrous webs, e.g. involving the application of pulverulent material on parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15764 Transferring, feeding or handling devices; Drives
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/15804 Plant, e.g. involving several steps
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49009 with elastic means
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49011 the elastic means is located at the waist region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49015 the elastic means being elastic panels
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/49017 the elastic means being located at the crotch region
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/491 specially adapted for gender distinct urine discharge pattern
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/496 in the form of pants or briefs
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 13/4963 characterized by the seam
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49023 being textured, e.g. corrugated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2013/49033 being elastic in transversal direction
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/086 using a rotary anvil
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7443 by means of ultrasonic vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/7847 using vacuum to hold at least one of the parts to be joined vacuum work holders in general B25B11/005
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/431 Joining the articles to themselves B29C66/4322 and B29C66/4332 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/433 Casing-in, i.e. enclosing an element between two sheets by an outlined seam for bookbinding B42C11/06; for packaging B65B; by laminating B32B37/00; enclosing tubular articles between substantially flat elements B29C66/53261
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4722 Fixing strips to surfaces other than edge faces fixing strips to edge faces B29C63/0026
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 : characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/723 : being multi-layered B29C66/7292, B29C66/72941 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72327 : consisting of natural products or their composites, not provided for in B29C66/72321 - B29C66/72324
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/72343 : for liquids
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/727 : being porous, e.g. foam
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 : Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7294 : Non woven mats, e.g. felt
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/8122 : characterised by the composition of the material constituting the pressing elements, e.g. constituting the welding jaws or clamps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81419 : and flat
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81427 : comprising a single ridge, e.g. for making a weakening line; comprising a single tooth
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/81435 : comprising several parallel ridges, e.g. for crimping comprising a single ridge B29C66/81427
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83411 : Roller, cylinder or drum types B29C66/83431 takes precedence; rollers, cylinders or drums moving relative to and tangentially to the parts to be joined B29C66/8362
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83511 : jaws mounted on rollers, cylinders or drums
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9141 : by controlling or regulating the temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/919 : characterised by specific temperature, heat or thermal flux values or ranges specific electrical resistance values B29C66/81262
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/9513 : characterised by specific vibration frequency values or ranges
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2007/00 : Use of natural rubber as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2021/00 : Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2827/18 : PTFE, i.e. polytetrafluorethene, e.g. ePTFE, i.e. expanded polytetrafluorethene
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/4878 : Diapers, napkins
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1034 : Overedge bending of lamina about edges of sheetlike base
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1051 : by folding
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 156/1054 : and simultaneously bonding [e.g., cut-seaming]

Abstract

A unitary disposable garment, such as disposable training pants, having a high degree of stretch in the cross-machine direction and fitting a broad range of wearer sizes. The unitary disposable garment is manufactured from a chassis and has a waist opening, two leg openings and a pair of side seams which join the front portion of the chassis to the rear portion of the chassis. The unitary disposable garment preferably has an absorbent assembly, i.e. an absorbent insert, secured to the inner layer of the chassis. The chassis from which the unitary disposable garment is manufactured, has four elasticized ear flaps; each ear flap is elasticized by securing an elastomeric element thereto and mechanically stretching the ear flap and the elastomeric element such that the ear flap is elastically extensible in the direction of initial stretching. The front portion of the chassis is then joined to the rear portion of the chassis on each side of the disposable garment by a seam.

Claims

1. An elasticized disposable garment comprising:

(a) a chassis having;

(i) a front portion having an end edge, longitudinal side edges, leg edges, a central region, ear flaps each side ear flap extending laterally outwardly from said central region to said longitudinal side edges and longitudinally along said central region from said end edge to said leg edge;

(ii) a rear portion opposed to said front portion, said rear portion having an end edge, longitudinal side edges, leg edges, a central region, ear flaps each side ear flap extending laterally outwardly from said central region to said longitudinal side edges and longitudinally along said central region from said end edge to said leg edge; and

(iii) a crotch portion between said front portion and said rear portion;

said chassis comprising an outer layer, and an elastic ear flap member joined to each said ear flap and extending longitudinally from said end edge of said ear flap towards said leg edge of said ear flap, said outer layer and said elastic ear flap member are mechanically stretched to form an elastomeric laminate, which is elastically extensible each said elastomeric laminate being unitary with said chassis in that said elastomeric laminate comprises a portion of said outer layer each said elastomeric laminate forming an elasticized ear flap in each said ear flap of said chassis, each said elasticized ear flap having differential extensibility along the longitudinal axis when stretched in the lateral direction; and

(b) seams joining said front portion to said rear portion adjacent said longitudinal side edges so as to form two leg openings and a waist opening substantially encircled by said end edges.

2. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein the differential extensibility of said elasticized ear flaps varies longitudinally through at least a portion of said elasticized ear flap from said end edge to said leg edge of said ear flap.

3. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein the lateral extensibility of said elasticized ear flaps varies longitudinally through at least a portion of said elasticized ear flap as measured from said leg edge to said end edge of said ear flap such that the portion .of said elasticized ear flap adjacent to said end edge has reduced lateral extensibility as compared to a portion longitudinally away from said end edge.

4. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein the differential extensibility is achieved by different elastomeric materials having varying extensions or contractive forces, modulus, or other properties.

5. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein said elastomeric laminate is mechanically stretched to form said elasticized ear flap.

6. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 5 wherein said elastomeric laminate is mechanically stretched in a non-uniform manner such that said stretch laminate is non-uniformly elasticized.

7. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein said chassis additional comprises an inner layer secured to said outer layer.

8. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 7 wherein said elastic ear flap members are interposed between said outer layer and said inner layer of said chassis.

9. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 8 wherein said chassis additionally comprises an absorbent assembly secured to said inner layer.

10. The elasticized disposable garment-of claim 9 wherein said absorbent assembly comprises a topsheet, a backsheet secured to said topsheet, and an absorbent core interposed between said topsheet and said backsheet, said backsheet being secured to said inner layer.

11. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein said inner layer comprises a liquid pervious nonwoven material that forms a topsheet.

12. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 11 wherein said chassis additionally comprises an absorbent core interposed between said topsheet and said outer layer.

13. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein said chassis further comprises an elasticized waistband disposed in at least said rear portion.

14. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 13 wherein said chassis further comprises elasticized leg cuffs disposed in at least said crotch region.

15. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 1 wherein said seams each comprise a mass of fused polymeric material which extend from the disposable garment about 1/16 of an inch or less.

16. The elasticized disposable garment of claim 15 wherein said seams each comprise a mass of fused polymeric material which forms a splice between said front portion and said rear portion.